Folding coop



' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(Model.)

1. Q. BARSTOW.

FOLDING COOP.

(Modl.) 2 sheets-Sheena I. BRSTOW.

FOLDING COOP.

Y i Patented Aug.5,'1884. 7'91 3- UNITED Srn'rns Arnsir l rricn.

isAAo o. BAnsToW, on nnnnsviLLn, onto.

FOLDING COOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 302,973, dated Angust5, 1884.

Application Bled December 3, 1853.

To @ZZ 'Lf/hone t may concern:

Be it known that I, IsAAc Q. Biinsrow, of Reeflsville, in the county ofMeigs and State oi Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovementsin Folding Coops; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to Which it pertains to Ina-ke and useit, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which i'orni partof this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in folding coops; and it consistsin the combination of the bottom, having pieces secured across its underside; the side pieces which are secu red to the bottom bysmeans ofstaples; the top pieces,which are hinged to the sides; the endpieces,which are hinged to the two crosspieces which extend across thelower side of the ends of the bottom,and suitable spring-catches on bothsides of the bottom, for holding the folding parts in position while thecoop is folded together for transportation, as will be more fullydescribed hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide a coop which, after it has beenused, can be lfolded up into a veiyr small space to be returned to theshipper, and thus not take up any unnecessaryv room in transportation.

Figure l is a perspective of the coop complete when ready for use. Fig.2 is a similar view of the coop folded together i'or transportation.Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the under side of the folded coop. Fig. itis a plan view showing the top part closed down upon the bottom. Fig. 5is a vertical cross-section taken through the folded parts.

A represents the bottom of the coop, upon the top of which are securedthe two side pieces, B. These side pieces, B, are securedin position bymeans of ringsor loops C, which act as hinges, and which allow the sidepieces, B, to be raised from ahorizontal position upon the top of thebottoni into a vertical position, as shown in Fig. l. The inner loweredges of the bottoni bars, X, of the sides' B are rounded away, so thatthe sides B can be readily closed down upon the top or the bottoni A;but the lower outer edges of these parts X are not rounded away, so thatwhen the sides (Model.)

are raised into a verticallposition (shown in Fig. l) this outer squareedge will serve as a 4stop to prevent the side B from moving past avertical position. Connected loosely to the top edge of each one ofthese sides B is the top G, the two partsbeing connected together byflexible hinges Y', which allow the top to be turned backward when thecoop is being folded together upon the top of the side pieces, B. Theseilexible hinges consist, preferably, of leather straps, two of which areused at each end, but only asingle one at the center. There two straps Yare used at the ends of the folding parts, each one has one end securedto one side'of one of the parts, then passes over the edges of bothparts, and then has its other end fastened to the opposite side of theopposite folding side or top part. Nothing novel is claimed in thesehinges, because they are old in other connections. vertical position andthe tops turned over into a horizontal position, their inner edges cometogether, as shown in F ig. l. These side and top pieces are thensupported and braced into position by nicansfof the folding end pieces,H. Each one of these end pieces has two bars, T, secured rigidly to it,and to the lower ends of these bars are secured suitable straps orhinges, B, as shown. these straps are bent around the pins c, which formthe pintles ofthe hinges. These pins a. are secured between the parts ofthe crosspieces L which are secured across the lower side of the ends ofthe bottoni A. TWhen the side and top pieces are folded down upon thetop of the bottoni piece, A, they are held in position by means of thespring snaps or catches l, which are fastened to the bottoni, and whichhavetheir upper ends to catch over the wires, as shown. Through one oithe top pieces is inadc an opening, through which the fowls can beremoved from or introduced into the coop, and this opening is closed bya spring-actuated door, lt. Springs are applied to the door for thepurpose of causing it to close quickly after having been opened. As hereshown, this door is pivoted upon one of the Wires, and its outer edge ismade to extend beyond the wire upon which it is pivoted l/Vhen the sidesare raised into a The lower ends of 8o IOO to catch against the top ofthe spring-rod S. As soon as the door is released, after having beenopened, the spring causes it to instantly close. The end pieces, I-I,when not in use, are folded against the under side of the bottoni, asshown; but when in use they are turned from under the bottom up into avertical position, so as to catch between the ends of the side and toppieces, as shown in Fig. 1; When turned up so as to catch between theends of the side and -top pieces, they form braces or supports forkeeping the side and top pieces rigidlyin position. In order to holdthese parts in lposition after the coop is ready for use, suitable pins,Q', or catches are passed down through the ends of the top pieces, so asto catch in the top edges of the end pieces, and thus prevent the coopfrom being accidentally opened.

In order toadd still further to the security ofthe coop, suitable claspsor holding devices, O, are secured to the end pieces, and these holdingdevices extend up over the ends of the top pieces and assist in lockingthem in place. When the end pieces are folded'down against the underside of the bottom piece,A, their top edges catch behind the two crosspieces or clips ]?,which extend across the bottoni of the piece A, andthrough these crosspieces are passed the spring snaps or catches Q, forholding these end pieces in place.

Afterthe coop has been used and `it is desired to either return it toits owner or to take it away until again required, the sides and toppieces are folded down upon the top of 35 the bottom piece, A, and theend pieces are turned back against the under side of the bottom, and allof these parts are locked in position by means of the spring snaps orcatches used for that purpose.

Having thus described my invention, I clainii i The combination of thebottoni A, having the pieces L P secured across its bottom, the sidepieces, B, secured to thebottombymeans of the staples C, the top pieces,G, secured to ISAAC Q. BARSTOV.

Witnesses:

Y JOHN E. KIBBLE, V. J. PACKARD.

